Former Chicago Police Supt. Fred Rice dies

Fred Rice rose through the ranks of the Chicago Police Department and in 1983 became the first African-American appointed to permanently lead the force.

Mr. Rice, 84, died Monday, Jan. 10, at a ManorCare Health Services in Palos Heights after a nearly 10-year battle with lung cancer, his family said.

At age 56, Mr. Rice was the department's chief of patrol when Mayor Harold Washington, Chicago's first black mayor, named him the permanent superintendent. In 1979, Sam Nolan, who was also black, was named acting superintendent for several weeks until a replacement was found.

But Mr. Rice's colleagues said the soft-spoken superintendent never shied away from a challenge. Years before, Mr. Rice drew the ire of some rank-and-file officers when he created racially integrated police teams, which broke up many long-standing two-man squad cars. The officers protested what they called "forced integration" by staging a slowdown in ticket writing, the Tribune reported in 1983.

"He was the superintendent for the entire Chicago Police Department, white, black (and) Hispanic," said Terry Hillard, the former superintendent who served under Rice. Hillard, the department's third black superintendent, said he witnessed Mr. Rice's willingness to stand up for his beliefs to Mayors Washington and Jane Byrne, as well as his former boss, Richard Brzeczek.

"If he had something on his mind, you were going to know about it. I don't care if you were the mayor, the first deputy (superintendent), whoever it was," Hillard said.

Mr. Rice earned high marks from Hillard, who said he modeled his tenure as superintendent after that of Mr. Rice.

LeRoy Martin, who succeeded Mr. Rice as the second black superintendent, said his predecessor was a tough, fair boss who commanded respect.

"He wasn't there to be your friend," Martin said. "He was there to be your boss and your leader."

He said officers wanted to please their ultimate superior "almost like your father."

"He demanded police do what police are supposed to do -- and that is to make the streets safe," Martin said.

Martin, who met Mr. Rice when both were officers with the Park District force, said his predecessor was a visionary in law enforcement who saw that heavy drugs were becoming the norm on the streets. In response, he beefed up the narcotics unit, Martin said.

"As a forward-thinking police officer, he could see it coming," Martin said.

Mr. Rice also worked to change the image of the Police Department, which had been plagued with allegations of brutality, Martin said.

Despite his moves toward diversity, Mr. Rice was named in various lawsuits that alleged reverse discrimination by former ranking white officers who claimed they had been demoted because they were white and had politically opposed Washington. Mr. Rice was cleared of any wrongdoing.

After serving in the Army for two years in Korea, Mr. Rice returned to Chicago and in 1955 became a patrol officer for the Park District police, which later merged with the Chicago Police Department.

Mr. Rice, who went on to receive undergraduate and master's degrees, often caught others off guard with how well-read he was, his daughter Judith said.

"He was a big, tough guy. But he was very warm, sensitive and caring," his daughter said. "He was also gregarious. He loved people, they loved him."

In addition to his daughter, Mr. Rice is survived by his wife, Thelma; a son, Lyle; a sister, Beverly Jones; and two granddaughters.